Advent, Christmas Eve, and Sacred Darkness
Advent is rapidly coming to an end. Our theme for this week is “Do the Good that is Yours to Do.” Sunday’s theme is “Hope is Worth the Risk.” We’ll conclude the series at the 5:30 pm service on Christmas Eve with, “Love Knows Your Name.”
Readers are needed for both services on Christmas Eve, you’ll be able to sign up on Sunday whether you are in person or on Zoom. Three readers are needed for the early service (5:30 pm) and nine for the late service (11 pm). If you won’t be in worship on Sunday, sign up to read by commenting below.
As we are all making the last preparations for Christmas, here is the poem I read on Sunday. It was first published at Beachtheology.com.
Sacred Darkness
Life begins in the sacred darkness of the womb
How have we come to fear the dark,
dark that all life needs for rest, renewal, rebirth
after we enter this world?
We let darkness divide us-
everything from the long hours of night
to the increase in melanin
stirs fear and creates distance.
Yet God calls us into the breach,
the great void that feeds
all our fears,
nurtures our distrust,
whispers lies of power and privilege,
confirms narratives of supremacy,
and justifies disregard for our neighbors.
This breach, this void, is deep,
deep beyond measure.
And, yes, it is dark and harbors danger.
Still, we are called to be repairers of this breach.
We are called to transform the foolish,
Empire-fed notions of darkness and
embrace the embryonic Light
that grows, even now, in
the deep darkness.
Let us repent of all our fears and foolishness
and ensure that our repentance is worthy
enough to bear fruit to nurture
a fractured, divided, and hate-filled world.
We who follow Christ,
who seek to welcome God into the world,
into our lives, anew,
we must embrace the sacred dark,
live in the breach,
and shine the Light
of healing and hope
to dispel the fear
and the division
and the disregard.
This is our work to do.
And in the doing,
there is joy
in connection,
in relationship,
in community,
in the One who is We
and teaches us
that Love knows
no limits.
About Rachael Keefe
Rev. Dr. Rachael Keefe is the pastor of Living Table United Church of Christ. She was called to Living Table in 2015 after serving in many varied ministry settings since her ordination in 1992. She holds graduate degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary and Andover Newton Seminary at Yale (formerly Andover Newton Theological School). Her ministry and leadership often center around advocacy and accessibility. Her writing has been published by Chalice Press, The Christian Century, Red Letter Christians, Working Preacher, RevGalBlogPals, and others. She is grateful to be in ministry with Living Table today.
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